Following yesterday's announcement that Franco Pellizotti will not be part of the Astana team in 2014, there has been heavy speculation about another rider possibly taking his place. However, the team's press officer Chris Baldwin tells Velonation that the squad is full and so there is no room for riders like Samuel Sanchez, Chris Horner or Igor Anton.

It came as a big surprise when Astana announced that Franco Pellizotti will not be riding in the team's colours in 2014. The team had announced the signing of the former Italian champion on August 1 but yesterday team manager Alexandre Vinokourov sent out a press release to inform that the parties had agreed not to go forward with a contract.

The announcement prompted some speculation that the team could potentially fill the vacant spot by another rider. With 5 professional teams folding at the end of the season, the market is loaded with high-quality riders that are searching for a new team.

Due to his biological passport case, Pellizotti could not ride for Astana until after May 2 as the team is not allowed to sign riders who have returned from a ban, until two years after the suspension has expired. Pellizotti had planned to use the Giro d'Italia to ride himself into form for the Tour de France where he would be a key domestique for Vincenzo Nibali.

Nibali has made it clear that his main target is to win the world's biggest bike race and with new signings Michele Scarponi, Mikel Landa, and Lieuwe Westra joining forces with the likes of Jakob Fuglsang, Janez Brajkovic, and Tanel Kangert, the Astana team shapes up to be one of the strongest in the French grand tour. However, there was still a possibility that the team would be keen to fill the vacant spot with another rider of Pellizotti's calibre.

People had started to speculate that the decision could open the door for Chris Horner, Samuel Sanchez or Igor Anton who are all desperately trying to find a team for the coming season. However, Astana press officer Chris Baldwin has today told Velonation that there is no room for more riders on the roster.

“We have a full squad now, headed into the 2014 season," he said. "There are no current plans to sign any more riders."

Hence, the Astana team will consist of 27 riders, with the new signings being Westra, Scarponi, Landa, Daniil Fominykh and Valentin Iglinskiy.